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Donga - The fate of the Korean soccer team
lies in the hands of coach Dick Advocaat. The question now is: how will he
pass his first test?
The team’s first competitor for a berth in the 2006 Germany World Cup, the
Iranian national team, arrived in Korea earlier this month.
The first comment out of Iran’s Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic on the game?
“We’re ready to win.”
The Iranian team that Korea will butt heads with on October 12 at Seoul
World Cup Stadium ranks 18th on the FIFA list, higher than Korea’s 26th
ranking. Add to this “Tehran magician” Ali Karimi (Bayern Munich), as well
as Vahid Hashemian (Hanover), Moharam Navidikia (Bochum), four Bundesliga
veterans who make up Asia’s dream team.
Karimi is the pillar of Iranian soccer, following in the steps of the “enemy
of Korean soccer,” Ali Daei (36). With a record head trick at the Asian
Soccer Cup quarterfinals, he brought Korea to its knees last year. He’s also
a pending candidate for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the
Year, along with Park Ji-sung (Manchester United).
Although Daei was excluded due to a sustained injury for Mehdi Mahdavikia in
Hamburg, Iran is a rare Asian team which plays on the European soccer level
with power and speed, creating a strong organization that will prove hardy
competition for Korea.
With seven wins, three ties, and seven losses between them, Korea is
currently ahead in the series with two wins and one loss in the past six
years, but in July 2004, Korea lost, 3-4 to Iran in the Asian Soccer Cup
quarterfinals.
“Along with Iran and Japan, Korea is Asia’s strongest team,” Ivankovic said.
“But we’re always confident. Although some are injured, we’re ready to win.”
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